ANNAPOLIS  Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. signaled on Thursday night that his next four-year term  if he wins re-election  will be his last.

The comments came during a meeting of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, a regional development and planning organization that includes community members, and local and state elected officials from Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties. The audience at the Loews Annapolis Hotel included Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and several cabinet secretaries.

"I've been involved with nine governors since I've been here in the state," said Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach. "It started with Spiro T. Agnew and is finishing up with Martin O'Malley. He's going to be my last one that I'll be working with as an elected official."

After the meeting, Miller, 67, backed off his announcement, saying he anticipates both he and O'Malley (D) will win their respective races in the fall. Any firm decision about his political future beyond that will come at a later time, he said.

Calvert County Commissioner Gerald W. Clark said Miller's statement took him by surprise.

"I'm sure he's probably put a lot of serious thought into when the right time would be to move on," said Clark, the council's chairman. "One thing for sure is he's earned the right to decide when the right time is to exit the arena."

It's not the first time Miller, who was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1971 and is in his 24th as the Senate's presiding officer, has publicly mentioned retiring.

Shortly after the 2006 election, he told the Washington Times his current term would be his last. He quickly played down those comments and announced in 2008 he planned to seek a 10th term.